Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) congratulates the farmers of Rajasthan who have compelled the BJP government in Rajasthan to concede to their major demands through their resolute struggle.

Thousands of farmers participated in the ‘mahapadav’ at district headquarters across the state since 1st September. Rasta rokos were held for 3 days bringing life to a standstill in around 20 districts.

All sections of the common people, particularly the workers and their trade unions extended unstinted support to the struggle of the kisans in the state under the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha. This has forced the adamant government of Vasundhara Raje to call the leadership of the All India Kisan Sabha for talks and concede some of the major demands.

The state government agreed waive loans up to Rs 50000 which would benefit 8 lakh farmers and to purchase groundnut, green gram and urad dal at minimum support price (MSP) at all district headquarters within 7 days, withdraw the hike in electricity rates for drip irrigation, pay the arrears of SC/ST/OBC scholarships immediately, relax the restrictions on the sale of cattle, take measures to protect crops from stray cattle and wild animals etc. The government has also agreed in principle to increase pension to Rs 2000 per month and write to the government of India seeking implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations on MSP.

The struggle and the victory of Rajasthan peasantry is a great inspiration to the working class all over the country.

CITU calls upon the entire working class of the country to follow the example of the Rajasthan farmers and participate in lakhs every day in the three day mahapadav called by the central trade unions near Parliament on 9-11 November 2017 and force the BJP government at the centre to concede the most genuine demands of the workers

Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) strongly condemns the brutal murder of noted journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh in front of her residence in Bengaluru yesterday. She was a critic of the communal forces of RSS.

This murder is the latest in the series of murders of rationalists like Govind Pansare, Narendra Dhabolkar and M.M. Kalburgi by these communal divisive forces to create terror against criticism of the Hindutva communal forces and among minorities.CITU conveys its condolences to her family and colleagues. CITU demands of the Government of Karnataka to immediately arrest the culprits and unearth the conspiracy to silence the voices of reason. CITU calls upon its members and the working class of the country to protest against this heinous crime and attack on secularism.